Testis function in prepubertal boys and young men born small for gestational age.
OBJECTIVE
Some studies reported an impaired gonadal function in males born small for gestational age (SGA). We investigated Sertoli cell function by measuring serum inhibin B and antimullerian hormone (AMH) levels in prepubertal boys and young men born SGA in comparison with age-matched controls born appropriate for gestational age (AGA).


METHODS
Inhibin B and AMH levels were determined in 73 prepubertal short SGA boys and in 72 age-matched AGA boys. In addition, 25 SGA boys were re-examined after 2 years of growth hormone (GH) treatment. Furthermore, inhibin B, AMH, testosterone, LH and FSH were studied in three groups of young men: 21 SGA men treated with GH, 15 SGA men with spontaneous catch-up growth and 25 young men born AGA.


RESULTS
Prepubertal short SGA boys and AGA boys had similar inhibin B (87.3 and 78.2 ng/ml) and AMH levels (75.6 and 63.6 microg/l, respectively). GH treatment did not result in different inhibin B and AMH levels. In young SGA men, inhibin B, testosterone, LH and FSH levels were similar compared to young AGA men. AMH levels were higher in the young SGA men (p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Being born SGA does not impair Sertoli cell function. Young men born SGA have a normal hypothalamic-pituitary-testis axis.
Boonstra
V H
VH
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. venje@tevreden.nl
Weber
R F A
RF
de Jong
F H
FH
Hokken-Koelega
A C S
AC
D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D001827:Body Height; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000188:drug therapy; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000502:physiology*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C422364:inhibin B; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone